Finally, my build thread, some weird crap in here :)
03-05-12, 06:08 PM
#151
Full Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Portland OR
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
just a couple quick pics that i took over the weekend of stuff i got done.
first was the adding of a T2 front sway bar. i'm not doing a rear sway bar, because as we should know stiffer sways in the rear helps with over steer, well i tell you another thing that helps with that also, it's called gravel.
second thing, i added another motor mount. this may not make any sense to anyone, but the whole point of this one was because for the most part my motor is sitting on stilts, and i wanted to limit any chance of moving side to side.
and third and definitely not least, i started my exhaust, it should be wrapped up this week.
first was the adding of a T2 front sway bar. i'm not doing a rear sway bar, because as we should know stiffer sways in the rear helps with over steer, well i tell you another thing that helps with that also, it's called gravel.
second thing, i added another motor mount. this may not make any sense to anyone, but the whole point of this one was because for the most part my motor is sitting on stilts, and i wanted to limit any chance of moving side to side.
and third and definitely not least, i started my exhaust, it should be wrapped up this week.
Last edited by mellow65; 07-22-17 at 10:43 PM.
03-12-12, 02:52 PM
#153
Full Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Portland OR
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have a goal to get this driving by the begining of may. I'm going to the Oregon trail rally, not as a competator, but to service for someone, and I want to bring this along into the day light so people can see it for the first time.
so with that goal, more work is done.
exhaust, done, wrapped, installed, check
one hell of a strut bar, check
running for the first time for longer then a few seconds. i must say, it sounds awesome.
more things to do, and just a month and a half to do it in, press on
so with that goal, more work is done.
exhaust, done, wrapped, installed, check
one hell of a strut bar, check
running for the first time for longer then a few seconds. i must say, it sounds awesome.
more things to do, and just a month and a half to do it in, press on
Last edited by mellow65; 07-22-17 at 10:44 PM.
03-13-12, 02:51 PM
#156
Wow
Nice work there. Have welder, will travel!! I'm on my third Subaru. I still have the first one. A 98 Outback Sport. I just bought a 2012 Outback. It's REALLY nice.
I'm getting ready to swap a 2nd gen rack and pinion in my rx.
Can't wait to see it drive.
I'm getting ready to swap a 2nd gen rack and pinion in my rx.
Can't wait to see it drive.
03-14-12, 03:05 PM
#157
Full Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Portland OR
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I swear with any project it's 5 steps forward and 3 steps back. I came home the other day to find a puddle of antifreeze on the ground, crap. well fortunately it was just the thermostat housing, so off the parts store to get one.
SOOooooooo, i drain the coolant and decide i want to beef up my motor mounts, so i had them out and damn, that oil pan looks like it's leaking.
so a resealed oil pan, a fixed thermostat gasket and what I like to call motor mounts 2.0, bigger, stronger, better.
i also took out the soft squishy stock bushings and did the age old trick i have been doing for year and that's to buy a tube of window weld and make my own "performance" bushings. Pretty much it's a tube of polyurethane and you can squirt it in what ever you need it to be.
If that just doesn't work out like i'm hoping, energy suspension does make a kit for what I used.
with out the new mounts from a tube.
SOOooooooo, i drain the coolant and decide i want to beef up my motor mounts, so i had them out and damn, that oil pan looks like it's leaking.
so a resealed oil pan, a fixed thermostat gasket and what I like to call motor mounts 2.0, bigger, stronger, better.
i also took out the soft squishy stock bushings and did the age old trick i have been doing for year and that's to buy a tube of window weld and make my own "performance" bushings. Pretty much it's a tube of polyurethane and you can squirt it in what ever you need it to be.
If that just doesn't work out like i'm hoping, energy suspension does make a kit for what I used.
with out the new mounts from a tube.
Last edited by mellow65; 07-22-17 at 10:45 PM.
03-16-12, 11:18 PM
#158
Full Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Portland OR
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
So got the car all back together and filled back up with fluids. I have to say now after many back and forth about what I was going to do about a radiator, I'm glad I stuck with the stock rx7 one, mainly for the shear volume of coolant that is held. It took a full 2 gallons when it was all said and done. I don't think the Subaru ones even took 1.5 gallons.
But some random shots.
Running, up to temp, and look ma, no check engine light.
All race cars should have push button starts.
And last but not least, my buddy found this when he was out looking at hot wheels today.
That's a caged 1st gen. How awesome is that.
But some random shots.
Running, up to temp, and look ma, no check engine light.
All race cars should have push button starts.
And last but not least, my buddy found this when he was out looking at hot wheels today.
That's a caged 1st gen. How awesome is that.
Last edited by mellow65; 07-22-17 at 10:47 PM.
03-25-12, 07:44 PM
#162
Full Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Portland OR
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well the day I didn't think would ever come came today as I backed the car out of the garage for the first time under its own steam.
Just a couple pics that I took today as I was moving it out.
Got all the tail lights hooked up and working, minus the reverse lights. Still need to run a wire for that.
Then after clearing away a bunch of crap that had taken up residence behind the car it backed right out.
I only got to drive it up and down my parents drive way a couple times, but it felt good, very solid, very go-cart feeling. The only thing that popped up while driving it was the the front of the fender rubbed the wheel. I knew this was going to pop up because I had moved the axle center line forward an inch or so.
So yeah, still plugging away, one little thing at a time. Like after its drive it was right back in the garage to get more stuff done.
Got my belt bar installed on the drivers side, now I just have to get a seat for the passenger side and do the belt bar on that side too.
Just a couple pics that I took today as I was moving it out.
Got all the tail lights hooked up and working, minus the reverse lights. Still need to run a wire for that.
Then after clearing away a bunch of crap that had taken up residence behind the car it backed right out.
I only got to drive it up and down my parents drive way a couple times, but it felt good, very solid, very go-cart feeling. The only thing that popped up while driving it was the the front of the fender rubbed the wheel. I knew this was going to pop up because I had moved the axle center line forward an inch or so.
So yeah, still plugging away, one little thing at a time. Like after its drive it was right back in the garage to get more stuff done.
Got my belt bar installed on the drivers side, now I just have to get a seat for the passenger side and do the belt bar on that side too.
Last edited by mellow65; 07-22-17 at 10:48 PM.
04-02-12, 01:19 AM
#163
Full Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Portland OR
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
You know it's scary when your "to-do to drive" list is down to 3 things. It's like I'm going to get to drive it really soon.
But still little things need to be done.
The nice thing about my parents owning a dealer ship is the stock pile of old license plates. So what to do, make a dash out of them, that's what.
I was going to leave them as they were but I really liked how my cluster cover looked painted black so I'm thinking I'm going to paint the rest of it black also.
And last but not least, the thing I have been asked the most about, "are you going to put another seat in it", yes people there is a seat so people can go for a ride.
So last 3 things:
Reverse lights
Aux 12v system, for running things that need power in the car
And hooking up my reverse lights
Then, I drive.
But still little things need to be done.
The nice thing about my parents owning a dealer ship is the stock pile of old license plates. So what to do, make a dash out of them, that's what.
I was going to leave them as they were but I really liked how my cluster cover looked painted black so I'm thinking I'm going to paint the rest of it black also.
And last but not least, the thing I have been asked the most about, "are you going to put another seat in it", yes people there is a seat so people can go for a ride.
So last 3 things:
Reverse lights
Aux 12v system, for running things that need power in the car
And hooking up my reverse lights
Then, I drive.
Last edited by mellow65; 07-22-17 at 10:49 PM.
04-07-12, 12:30 AM
#165
Full Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Portland OR
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well short of a windshield and a half *** alignment I'm at this level of the car, DONE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just a couple more pics of things that I got done.
Took out and painted my dash flat black. It turned out very nice for 0 dollars.
Love them or hate them I ran a shift light in my last rally car and loved it. No more trying to keep your eye on the tach, no more short shifting it. Floor it, see light, shift, repeat.
Because all of the rx7 electronics are gone I no longer have a gas door popper. So when I was out at the junk yard the other day I was keeping my eye open for some gas door openers and this one caught my eye. Came off a Datsun 210. Kind of big but still cool looking piece I think. It'll be the only piece of chrome on the car.
And here she sits waiting for the weather man to give me some real forecasting of weather so I could schedule someone to come out and install a windshield.
Hood on, hood pins mounted. I'm really running out of things to do. My current project is a dome light. Clearly nothing to do with it driving but nice to have non the less.
Just a couple more pics of things that I got done.
Took out and painted my dash flat black. It turned out very nice for 0 dollars.
Love them or hate them I ran a shift light in my last rally car and loved it. No more trying to keep your eye on the tach, no more short shifting it. Floor it, see light, shift, repeat.
Because all of the rx7 electronics are gone I no longer have a gas door popper. So when I was out at the junk yard the other day I was keeping my eye open for some gas door openers and this one caught my eye. Came off a Datsun 210. Kind of big but still cool looking piece I think. It'll be the only piece of chrome on the car.
And here she sits waiting for the weather man to give me some real forecasting of weather so I could schedule someone to come out and install a windshield.
Hood on, hood pins mounted. I'm really running out of things to do. My current project is a dome light. Clearly nothing to do with it driving but nice to have non the less.
Last edited by mellow65; 07-22-17 at 10:51 PM.
04-16-12, 01:33 AM
#166
Full Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Portland OR
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
So the windshield comes on Tuesday. I'm pretty stoked about it. But until then I'm getting a ton of "little" things checked off my list of stuff to do.
The factory door cards were trashed, they had rtv to fill holes in the vinyl, needless to say, they looked like ****. I just happen to have this huge sheet of plastic I had been keeping for just such an occasion.
So i made me some new door panels
They look a million times better and very simple.*
So I have new video of the car starting, running and some exhaust sounds, should have up by tomorrow, I'll post it up when I get a chance.
The factory door cards were trashed, they had rtv to fill holes in the vinyl, needless to say, they looked like ****. I just happen to have this huge sheet of plastic I had been keeping for just such an occasion.
So i made me some new door panels
They look a million times better and very simple.*
So I have new video of the car starting, running and some exhaust sounds, should have up by tomorrow, I'll post it up when I get a chance.
Last edited by mellow65; 07-22-17 at 10:51 PM.
04-21-12, 09:49 PM
#170
Full Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Portland OR
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Oh trust me, I mapped out what it would take to do an h6 from a SVX, lots of frame mods, firewall mods. Lots O cutting to say the least. But I'm 99% sure I could make it work.
This required very little mods to the body to make it all work. This was a, "hmmmm, I wonder if I can do this". And well it seemed like it would, so I did.
So with my new found intimacy with this chassis Im almost certain I could make the h6 work.
So much in fact, that was my next project. After this one gets more doneish, I was going to order up another bell housing. I have a buddy that has an old h6 taking up space, I have a spare shell I was picking parts from. So I guess we all will just have to wait and see when I start that project.
This required very little mods to the body to make it all work. This was a, "hmmmm, I wonder if I can do this". And well it seemed like it would, so I did.
So with my new found intimacy with this chassis Im almost certain I could make the h6 work.
So much in fact, that was my next project. After this one gets more doneish, I was going to order up another bell housing. I have a buddy that has an old h6 taking up space, I have a spare shell I was picking parts from. So I guess we all will just have to wait and see when I start that project.
04-30-12, 03:40 PM
#172
Full Member
Thread Starter
iTrader: (2)
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: Portland OR
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well we have reached that lovely part that most people never think will ever come with any large project, the point of driving it.
Yup, I drove it, and people, I'm in love. You remember those times in life where your friend got some toy so incredibly cool that you wanted to play with it so much, but whatever it was, it was theirs, and you could play with it. Yeah, I just built that magical toy. This thing it quite possible the coolest thing I have first, ever built, and second every driven. It's got great pick up and go, it has enough brakes to rip your face off, it sounds mean as hell, but looks totally stock from the outside.
And I built it with my own two hands.
so it still blows my mind that I went from this
to this
and with a final weight of this
with just over a half a tank of gas.
So when i finally do my 2.5 short block swap i will be at the very limit of my classes weight versus displacement figure.
all taped up and ready for a rattle can paint job.
and because i didn't want to jump to far way with color I decided to stick with white. but I did a flat white, to mix it up a little
i haven't taken any pictures of it yet with everything back on it. but it's all back together and ready for some driving.
so if anyone would possibly like to see this in person, I am going to be making it to the Oregon Trail Rally this year, not to compete, but to service for a friend of mine. But I'm going to bring it out to PIR on Friday just mainly so I can show off the cluster eff that i have spent the better part of 2 years building in my garage.
Yup, I drove it, and people, I'm in love. You remember those times in life where your friend got some toy so incredibly cool that you wanted to play with it so much, but whatever it was, it was theirs, and you could play with it. Yeah, I just built that magical toy. This thing it quite possible the coolest thing I have first, ever built, and second every driven. It's got great pick up and go, it has enough brakes to rip your face off, it sounds mean as hell, but looks totally stock from the outside.
And I built it with my own two hands.
so it still blows my mind that I went from this
to this
and with a final weight of this
with just over a half a tank of gas.
So when i finally do my 2.5 short block swap i will be at the very limit of my classes weight versus displacement figure.
all taped up and ready for a rattle can paint job.
and because i didn't want to jump to far way with color I decided to stick with white. but I did a flat white, to mix it up a little
i haven't taken any pictures of it yet with everything back on it. but it's all back together and ready for some driving.
so if anyone would possibly like to see this in person, I am going to be making it to the Oregon Trail Rally this year, not to compete, but to service for a friend of mine. But I'm going to bring it out to PIR on Friday just mainly so I can show off the cluster eff that i have spent the better part of 2 years building in my garage.
Last edited by mellow65; 07-22-17 at 10:53 PM.
04-30-12, 10:33 PM
#174
Couch Driver
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Nottingham, PA
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Found your project in a port on Grassroots motorsports and knew I had to go read through the whole thing. I love who you combined so many different things and make them work just the way you wanted. Enjoy driving the hell out of it!
